ST. CROIX — The Government Employees’ Retirement System has filed two separate lawsuits in Superior Court seeking to recover a combined total of $851,127.75 in unpaid rent from former tenants at Havensight Mall on St. Thomas.
In one complaint submitted March 20, GERS alleges that Monraj Virgin Islands Inc., which operates as Dynasty Jewelers and Dazzlers, owes $661,868.35 in unpaid rent accrued between April 2020 and November 2021.
In a separate filing dated March 19, GERS claims Turkish Grand Bazaar, LLC owes $189,259.40 for rent that went unpaid between April 2020 and September 2021.
Both cases involve commercial leases at Havensight Mall, a waterfront shopping complex owned by GERS. According to court documents, lease agreements for both tenants were executed through the West Indian Company Limited, which managed the property on behalf of GERS.
The management agreement between GERS and WICO was terminated on April 1, 2020, according to the filing. Thereafter, GERS took over the management of Havensight Mall.
The Monraj case involves multiple leases covering approximately 2,400 square feet of retail space in Shop Building I and 5,600 square feet in Warehouse No. 5. Monthly rent obligations varied over time, including monthly payments of $23,649.67 for retail space and $4,666.67 for warehouse space, with a temporary rent reduction to $3,500 per month under a 2018 lease amendment.
The Turkish Grand Bazaar lease covered more than 2,300 square feet of retail space, with monthly rent set at $9,250, according to the complaint.
Both tenants are accused of falling behind on rent beginning in April 2020. Court documents state that Turkish Grand Bazaar vacated its leased spaces in September 2021, while Monraj vacated its retail space in January 2022 and warehouse space in March 2022. In both cases, GERS alleges the outstanding balances remain unpaid.
Through the lawsuits, filed by attorney Zuleyma Chapman, deputy general counsel for GERS, the System is seeking judgments for the full amounts owed, as well as interest, late fees, legal costs, and other expenses associated with collecting the debts. GERS, which has demanded a jury trial in both cases, has also requested that both matters be expedited on the court’s docket.
